Time release apparatus



June 11, 1935. P BEGHETTl 2,004,515

TIME RELEASE APPARATUS Filed Deo. 14, 19252 IN VEN TOR.

PE TER Bes/15TH.

A TTORNE YS.

Patented June 11, 1935 'UNHTED STATES TENT @FFQE TIME RELEASE APPARATUSv Peter Beghetti, San Francisco, Ca-lil.k Application December'lll, 1932, Serial No. `I4*7,ll10

claims. (c1. 11er- 1);

This invention relates to devices which may be set for performing an operation at any future time. The main objects of the invention are to provide an improved timing and operating device of this vkind which will be simple, which cannot get out of order, and one which once started or set cannot fail to operate at the time for which it is set. Another object is the provision of a timing device as above which will automatically turn off a gas valve such as the gas valve of a stove or oven so as to stop the 'cooking when a certain time comes around.

Other features and advantages of the inven-v tion will appear in the following description and accompanying drawing. 4

Briefly described, the invention consists of a boX housing, a burning member such as a candle, and when the candle burns down to the point for which it is set, it releases a weight which falls and performs the work.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my device arranged to shut off a gas stove valve and with the front side of its enclosing box taken oii` to show the internal construction.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the device as seen from the lines 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the candle used to actuate the device.

Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively the plan and side views of the candle release clip.

Fig. 6 is a View similar to that of Fig. 5 eX- cept that it shows the use of a punk instead ci a candle.

Fig, 7 is an enlarged View of the gas stove valve handle tted with a detachable cord or chain attachment.

In more detail, the drawing shows at I a rectangular sheet metal box provided with a hinged upper lid 2 and a removable side panel 3 which has a lip 4 projecting outwardly at its upper edge to serve as a grip for lifting it from free sliding grooves formed in the corners of the box to receive it.

The lid 2 and the lower part of one or more sides of the box are perforated as at 5 to ventilate for the burning candle 6 which iorms the timing element of the combination.

The candle 6 is of a fairly hard grade of standard size and preferably has cross graduations l extending along its side each of which designates a certain time interval of burningsay ten or fteen minutes. This candle is supported on a stand 8 which may be adjusted up and down on a fixed rod by means of a thumb screw I0. 'I'he rod 9 may conveniently have graduations vIii .on it as described for the side of t-he candle, soA .that ungraduated candles or special punks may be'used,

When the candle is in position it projects upwardly through a hole in a transverse sheet metal partition I2 and through a flat sheet metal yoke I3 hooked over a hook Ill, and also through a hole in a flat plate l5 which is positioned between the arms of the sheet metalyoke and is attached to a chain I6 which passes along abovethe partition I 2 over a pulley I'I'vat the end of the box, up overa pulley I8 at the top 'of the box, then down, and secures to a'heavy block of iron I9 or other weight which hangs' sus-- pended and furnishesthe stored power fcrperforming the requiredvoperation when released by burning Vof the candle as will be later explained. f

Also attached to the weight I9 is an operating cord or chain 2i) which passes over any number of guide pulleys as at 2i, 22 and leads from the latter in any desiredv direction as indicated by the dotted lines a, b, c, to the work to be performed, or as shown in the present instance at 2S to the handle 23 of a gas valve of a gas stove or oven 24. The connection tothe gas valve handle Vis preferably made by means of a detachable shoe-25 as of leather or other material which is slipped over the `handle and j laced, buttoned or otherwise secured in place.

In operation, withall parts arranged as shown in Fig. l and the box'preferably secured to the oor or otherfirm support as by screws 2B, the side panel 3 is opened and the' candle is vadjusted vertically so las to project above the yoke I3 the proper number of graduations corresponding to the future time at which it is desired to shutoff the gas stove, or this may be determined from the graduations onthe standard 9. The candle is then lighted andthe box closed, and when the candle burnsy down to the plate I5 the plate will slidey past they candle iol and permit the weight to dropand thereby pull,

on chain 20 and turn off the gas valve. Chain 2! is preferably made slightly longer than necessary so as to keep a certain amount of slack in it as' indicated at 20 so that thefalling Weight will give a more sudden pull upon taking up the slack and thus get the Valve started if it should be stuck.

The distance of falling of the weight maybe adjusted by providing a hook link IS in chain IE which can be hooked into any Aof the remain-V ing links as indicated in Fig. 5.

As plate i5 slides over the end of the burning candle it will put out the flame as the at part of the plate passes over it.

Instead of a candle to form the timing element a punk or slow v.burning fuse may be used. Such a fuse or punk would be much smaller in diameter than a candle and to properly accommodate this the yoke I3 and'plate i5 vare provided with a smaller hole 21 to approximately fit the fuse or punk 28k (see Fig. 6), and the lower end of the punk could be supported-if necessary, onan extension of the candle support.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen to be a very reliable device for automatically shutting oi a gas stove at any predetermined iuture time, as it cannot fail or get out of order like the spring timers frequently do, with a result that the stoveburns upa carefully prepared dinner during the absence of the party in charge, and while its principal me iswfor the purposementioned it is yevident that it may be used tovturn on or off an electric switch handle for heat or"light,-or ar radio, or turn on an alarm or other device. It should yalso be noted that while `I'prefer a Weight as l the source of stored power, a springcould be doing work at a remote point.

2. Apparatus as specified in claim 1 in which means yis provided for adjusting said candle for different lengths of burning before reaching said device.

3. Apparatus asspecied in claim 1 in which the means engaging the candle is a at metal yoke, and said device is a metal plate adapted to go between the arms of said yoke, the yoke and plate being apertured to pass the candle.

4. ,Apparatus as specied in claim 1 in which the vmeans engaging the candle is aflat metal yoke, and said device in a metal plate adapted `to go between the arms of said yoke, the yoke and plate being apertured to pass the candle.

5. In a time release apparatus, a timing element comprising a generally vertically extending elongated candle, means arranged and adapted to engage' the candle at a point intermediate its ends and arranged and adapted to hold the candle `against lateral movement while permittingrelative movement therebetween in opposite kdirections longitudinally of the cansaid means comprising 'a stationarily mounted member lprovided with an aperture to pass the candle therethrough with a side of the candle engaging a side of the aperture, a movable device adjacent said member blocked from movement by the body of the candle adapted to be released upon burning `of thecandle to said. movable device, a supportA arranged and adapted to engage the lower end of said candle below said member,y and meansv mounting said support for movement axially of the longitudinal axis of the candlejor supporting the candle at various heights through the aperture in saidmember as desired.

PETER BEGHETTI. 

